TVSquad

I don't think they make clones on purpose; rather, I think it the footage is edited to show outfits with the basic staples than almost anyone can use in their own wardrobe. In other words, the sameness is meant for the viewing audience instead of the person getting the makeover.

One thing I often wonder about the show is when they makeover someone from outside of New York. Are they really taking their location into account? I lived in places and worked at jobs where if I walked around with an Ann Taylor skirt on (or any skirt, for that matter) I would have been laughed at.

And how many of the people Clinton and Stacey tell to buy an outfit for going out for cocktail parties actually go to cocktail parties? I could count the number of cocktail parties I've been to on one hand, even if I didn't have any fingers.

But overall, I forgive these errors because I, too, would trade my dignity for $5,000 in clothes.

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I think the rules they give are too hard to follow on an everyday basis, especially for fashion-addled guys like me.

But, then again, there are a bunch of guys crawling around New York that seem to be following those rules, while I walk around in the finest potato sacks Land's End has to offer. So some guys have a clue.

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The people that go on this show are total disasters when it comes to picking out clothes.

I think they do allow for some personal style on the show.

The cocktail dress is more than just a cocktail dress imo.

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I watch the Style Network show - How do I look? - more than I care to admit. It has a bit of twist, in that two of the choices for new clothes are selected by loved ones of the person in style question, the third collection is picked by a 'stylist'.
Fashion generalizations - like don't wear high-waisted pants, don't wear super low pants, don't wear leggings with baggy sweaters, don't wear red and yellow together - all have some truth and some fiction (except that last one, and the leggings thing).

I believe these shows do, to some degree put people into this prepackage, mall oriented idea of what looks good. It doesn't have much imagination or personal choice or personality to it all. This is because it was their personality that is getting them nominated in the first place. I sometimes cross the line, we all do...what it comes down to though is that I know enough to put on the Ann Taylor suit when going to a job interview and to leave the pink tutu skirt with brown lace and satin bustier and blue sweater and leggings for going out to the bar or some other place that drunk people are...drunk people are very forgiving and understanding when it comes to 'personal style'.

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What I like about WNTW is they get people of all sizes and shapes. Not just people that look like models. I watched one recently where they took a full figured woman and made her look 15 years younger and 20 pounds thinner just by showing her how to balance her wardrobe.

This show made me get rid of my high rise tapered jeans (hey, I'm a child of the 80s) and I have taken a few other cues from them and it has paid off. However, what they consider good enough to go grocery shopping in is something I would wear to dinner and a movie.

The old programs used to show more outfits at the end, instead of the 3 we get now. Often they included outfits that did not conform to the "rules" and Stacy would shake her finger at the person.

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Funny you should mention the teacher from Brooklyn - that's my cousin's roommate. I watched the show for the first time over the holidays when my cousin showed me the tape from that episode.. It was interesting to hear her comments on how the show worked. A LOT of the outfits and "suggestions" come directly from Levi's.

People on the show aren't allowed to select any of the clothing items that are featured on the mannequins. My cousin also said a producer did some 'last-minute changes' before Susan went on stage with some of the outfits that actually made the selections look worse.

The other thing is the show goes out of its way to make people look like disasters - obviously Susan wasn't wearing her brastrap necklaces and tube socks to the classroom every day.

All said and done, it sounds like she had a good experience and definitely appreciated the cash; but in my personal opinion the show could use a little work (especially in the credibility department).

And that Stacy girl just comes across as a giant bitch.

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There may be a general sameness to the rules, but I think they are just reflecting what is currently in fashion (ie, Stacy will soon stop pushing the pointy-toed shoes in favor of the new rounded-off pointy toe). Also, most of the victims on the show don't have model bodies (which is one of the program's best features), so it's no surprise that they're told to ditch the low-rise jeans and load up on A-line skirts and tailored trousers. Also, these people are not fashion conscious, so I think they often choose "safe" outfits. At least each person is directed to (chain) stores that seem to reflect their personality (ie, some people go to Escada, some to Club Monaco, some to Ann Taylor, some to Macy's).

Since becoming more fashion-conscious, the victims may develop more of an individual fashion personality with time. But probably not. They tend to treat clothes like a uniform, and just as they chose a style that was in fashion 10 years and 20 pounds ago, a middle-aged Stacy and Clinton will probably find their old victims decades from now still walking around in straight leg jeans and pointy toe stilettos when we're all in palazzo pants and wooden clogs (god help us!)

p.s. I love this show!

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re: #6 "And that Stacy girl just comes across as a giant bitch"

That's why we watch it! Honestly though, wouldn't you like to have a 30 minute session with Stacy and Clinton before your next big event? I know I would.

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Personally I tend to like the original British show much better. The remarks a bit drier and more cutting, yet at the same time more honest. I've also found many, many times when the hosts were wearing what I found to be absolutely hideous clothing. The same thing goes for recommending that they almost always purchase the most expensive clothes possible: nice, attractive, normal jeans simply won't do... they need to be $250 designer jeans with no reasoning that they look or fit any better. I recall one episode where they were offended that a woman was wearing hooded sweatshirts and in lieu of some kind of more reasonable compromise instead suggested a cashmere hooded sweatshirt for (I believe) around $600. The reasoning seemed to be that it was expensive and looked expensive so it was ok to wear it.

The show seems to focus much more on reinforcing the boutique, "trend of the month" mindset rather than helping people who legitimately have terrible taste learn how to clothe themselves a bit better.

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Personally, I think the show needs to increase the amount of money. $5,000 won't go very far. Especially, if the person is shopping at a more expensive store on 5th.

The fashion advice works because these are 2 people, who have been in the business and know what looks best on people.

I think they should allow the participants to take home the clothes from the mannequins as an extra reward for going on the show.

Wouldn't that be great?

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